20070812 Ver 2_NCWRC Applauds Yadkin Riverkeeper_20090219

FW: NCWRC Applauds Yadkin Riverkeeper for Calling Alcoa To C...
Subject: FW: NCWRC Applauds Yadkin Riverkeeper for Calling Alcoa To Clean Up N.C. Pollution
From: "Laton, Don" <[e-mail]>
Date: Thu, 19 Feb 2009 10:01:21 -0500
To: "John Dorney" <[e-mail]>
Fyi. I imagine you are aware of this item. I'm forwarding it to let you know that it was sent,
apparently, to our DOJ Administration and forwarded to me.
Donald W. Laton
Assistant Attorney General
Water & Land Section
Environmental Division
Office No. 323A
North Carolina Department of Justice
P.O. Box 629
Raleigh, North Carolina 27602-0629
919-716-6963 (Direct)
919-716-6766 (Fax)
919-716-6600 (Environmental Division)
dlaton(q?-ncdoj.gov
From: NCAGO
Sent: Wednesday, February 18, 2009 5:07 PM
To: Laton, Don
Subject: FW: NCWRC Applauds Yadkin Riverkeeper for Calling Alcoa To Clean Up N.C. Pollution
Don,
Would this belong to your section?
Thank you,
Jeanne/ x6782
From: [e-mail] [maiIto: [e-mail]]
Sent: Friday, February 06, 2009 8:42 AM
To: NCAGO
Subject: NCWRC Applauds Yadkin Riverkeeper for Calling Alcoa To Clean Up N.C. Pollution
Media Contacts:
Patty Briguglio
MMI Associates, Inc.
[phone]
[phone] (fax)
patty(cD_mmimarketing. corn
Michelle Wingate
MMI Associates, Inc.
[phone]
[phone] (fax)
michelle(nmmimarketing.com
N.C. Water Rights Committee Applauds Yadkin Riverkeeper Call For Alcoa To CleanUp
Contamination At Badin Lake
Leader Of Environmental Group Says Environmental Damage Must Be Addressed If Alcoa
Is To Receive 50-Year License For Project
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FW: NCWRC Applauds Yadkin Riverkeeper for Calling Alcoa To C...
RALEIGH, N.C. - The N.C. Water Rights Committee (www.ncwaterrights.org) is applauding a recent press
release by the Yadkin Riverkeeper calling for Alcoa Power Generating Inc. (Alcoa) to take measures to clean up
existing contamination at Badin Lake before the multinational firm receives another 50-year license to operate
dams at High Rock, Tuckertown, Narrows and Falls Reservoirs, also known as the Yadkin Hydroelectric
Project. Dean Naujoks, the Yadkin Riverkeeper, wrote in the release that after reviewing reports on the history
of pollution at Badin Lake, which flows into the Yadkin via the Narrows Dam in Stanly County, he concluded that
"I believe that Alcoa is responsible for much of the contamination at Badin Lake and therefore must be required
to clean it up if the corporation wants a license for exclusive use of generating hydroelectric power on the Yadkin
River."
Naujoks said he was concerned that available data clearly indicate that Badin Lake and the area downstream
have significant human, health and ecological problems that are and will continue to be affected by Alcoa's dam
operations. Also disturbing him was the fact that Alcoa discharged pollutants into the air and/or county lands and
waterways during the operation of its smelter at Badin Lake from 1916 through 2002. The known contaminants
include cyanide, fluoride, PCBs, solvents, metals, hydrocarbons, benzene, naphthalene and methane.
Naujoks concluded that "Until Alcoa addresses and resolves this contamination issue in a timely manner, my
organization cannot in good faith support Alcoa's relicensing effort because of my concerns about its effects on
the water quality of the Yadkin River."
The Yadkin Riverkeeper's mission is to respect, protect and improve the Yadkin Pee Dee River Basin through
education, advocacy and action. The program is part of the Waterkeeper Alliance, an international grassroots
advocacy organization dedicated to protecting and preserving water from polluters. Naujoks was appointed
Yadkin Riverkeeper this fall.
The N.C. Water Rights Committee appreciates the Yadkin Riverkeeper's statement in support of one of the
group's key concerns. The committee has raised questions about Alcoa's commitment to respecting the Yadkin
River in regard to its history of environmental contamination connected to the firm's now-defunct smelter in
Badin. The committee believes Alcoa's failure to properly identify all contamination sites and say when it will
clean them up indicates it will not be the best steward for the Project if it receives a 50-year license from the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
Currently Alcoa needs a 401 Water Quality Certification from the N.C. Division of Water Quality (DWQ) along
with the FERC license in order to continue to operate the four dams in the Yadkin Hydroelectric Project. If Alcoa
receives both, it will have exclusive water rights to conduct hydroelectric operations on the upper Yadkin River
for 50 years, and the opportunity to make millions in profits selling electricity both inside and outside the state.
The N.C. Water Rights Committee is urging those that are concerned about the environmental degradation
caused by Alcoa's use of the public's water to submit comments to the N.C. Division of Water Quality
(DWQ). The N.C. Division of Water Quality is scheduled to announce its decision on March 16. The general
public may submit comments to DWQ in response to Alcoa's 401 request by e-mail or written comments.
Comments in response to Alcoa's 401 request may be sent via e-mail to John Dorney, the Supervisor for North
Carolina Division of Water Quality's 401 and Wetlands programs, at Iohn.dorneyCa?ncmail.net. Written
comments may be sent directly to the Division of Water Quality, provided that they are received by February
16th, 2009. Comments should be sent to NC Division of Water Quality, Attn: Mr. John Dorney, 401/Wetlands
Unit, 1650 Mail Service Center Raleigh NC 27699-1650.
The N.C. Water Rights Committee is a group of concerned citizens, business leaders, government officials and
others who have joined together to make sure that the citizens of North Carolina are fully informed about the
critical issue of the public's water rights.
Related Links:
www.ncwaterrights.org
www.yadkinriverkeeper.org
www.waterkeeper.org
www.yadkinriverkeeper.org/alcoapolIutionworldwide
Quotes:
"We are pleased and very grateful that Mr. Naujoks has taken a stand as the Yadkin Riverkeeper and requested
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FW: NCWRC Applauds Yadkin Riverkeeper for Calling Alcoa To C...
that Badin Lake's contamination be addressed by Alcoa prior to any relicensing the firm may receive for the
Yadkin Hydroelectric Project," said Nancy McFarlane, president of the N.C. Water Rights Committee. "His
statements are yet another indicator that the officials and leaders reviewing the licensing for the Yadkin
Hydroelectric Project must keep in mind the current environmental hazards the river faces and hold the licensee
accountable to address them if the Yadkin is to remain healthy and able to sustain life over the next few
decades."
About N.C. Water Rights Committee:
The N.C. Water Rights Committee is a coalition of North Carolina businesses and concerned citizens who have
joined this statewide effort to inform citizens of the critical issues and decisions concerning water rights that
affect all North Carolinians now and for many decades to come. For more information, visit
www.ncwaterrights.org.
Keywords:
MMI Associates, Inc., Public Relations, N.C. Water Rights Committee, Water Rights, North Carolina Water
Resources, Water Policy, NCDENR, Department of Environment and National Resource, Division of Water
Quality, DWQ, EPA, Water Quality Act, Alcoa, Yadkin Riverkeeper, Dean Naujoks, Yadkin River, Badin Lake,
401 Water Quality Certification, Raleigh City Councilor, Nancy McFarlane
Patty Briguglio
MMI Associates, Inc.
[phone]
patty(?D-mmimarketinq.com
PR Firms Raleigh, NC
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